Reference Data

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF receptor (TNFR) gene superfamilies regulate numerous biological functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival through regulating the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB and various mitogen-activated protein kinases (reviewed in 1). Nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) was one of the earliest characterized members of this family (2). Also known as the low-affinity receptor p75NTR, this receptor is involved in several diverse functions such as apoptosis, neurite outgrowth during development, and myelination (reviewed in 3). Its ligands include NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NT3, and NT4 (4). NGFR can also associate with other NGF receptors such as Trk through the cytosolic and transmembrane domains and thus can function as a co-receptor that refines Trk affinity and specificity for neurotrophins (5). Finally, upon binding of various neurotrophins, NGFR associates with tumor necrosis factor receptor-6 (TRAF6), suggesting that it can potentially function as a signal transducer for NGF signals through NGFR (6).